New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-12
NETWORK.
THE RISE OF THE CHEF STATE OF THE
UNION.


ponwealths serics) 2 vols. 1emo. PIP Ill, XIV 7os'
Houghton, Mifiiin q Co.
One of the best subjects in the American Com
nonwcalths series has received In these two vo:-
umes Q notably allie and interesting treatment
The history of Now-York before the Civil WAT 10
more varied and picturesque than that OF any other
member of the Federal Union, not excepting e'Iher
Puritan Massachusetts, or Cavalier virginia lor uh'
like the Others IL offers strange contrasts OF popua
tion of ideas, and Of manners. and to ereater OK
ceut than any of the others 1t was the theatre OF the
momeutous national rivarics which determined the
destiny of America. Mr.. Roberts seems to have
given o close study to the whole range OF MS
theme from the settlements Of the thrifty and
near-sghted Dutch, through the complications OF
the struggle with Canada, and the intrigues OF
Fedsrslists and Republicans...to the tangled pol
itics of cur own day aud he closes with Drignt
and clever study Of the characteristics OF our res
ent population and the unique position OF Now ioiA
among American States Almost from the pegln-
ming New-Amsterdam exhibited many OF the traits
which have since been distinctive OF tho metrop-
oils 1t was trading community, whose mem oers
were inspired neither by the religious and political
aspirations of class of the Immigrants, nor oy
the thirst for novel adventure of another it was
established by commercial corporation ana the
settlers had no higher object than to get rich by the
traffic In furs The mercantile spirit however,
proyed favorable to the development OF independ-
ence. The people were inclined to be tenacious OF
their rights and privileges and their disposition to
act for themselves was strengthened by the TACT
that even from an early day they constituted
mixed population. At the outset they dealt honor
ably with the Indians, buying all the land they
wanted on terms winch, absurd as they seem. were
AS good as the savages demanded or deserved, ana
Mr. Roberts thinks that their just treatment OF
the tribes was powerful factor in withholding
the Iroouois from French influence and finally de-
Gliding the contest between the two great European
Powers for the possession of this continent.
There Is something in .his statement Of tie case
but it is pushed too far Although the intercourse
between the Dutch and the aborigines was gener-
ally conducted upon q simple business basis, and
with due regard to the paramount interest Of the
fur trade, We cannot forget that some OF the
grossest outrages to which the Indiaos were ever
subjected In Colonial times were committed by the
Dutch The contrast between the French ana
Dutch policy in Indian affairs is very strong. Inc
French always aimed at Outstanding the Indians
and while their missionaries Iabored in this work
from religious ZEAL the royal Governors of Canada
Though they often quarrsed with the priests. were
clad TO use them as the most efficient agents in eX-
tending the French supremacy. Governors and
priests together would have formed settlements OF
moro or less civilized Indian converts all through
the regions of the ST. Lawrence. the Lakes and the
Mississippi and the alliance secured by these estab
lishments would have been almost Irresistible
Great progress had been made in converting and
settling the Hurons under this plan when the fierce
Iroquois burst upon the Christian cantons' de-
stroyed the Hurons. massacred priests, oDiterated
the missions and carried furious war all along the
border At this point the Dutch and French pol
ices come into contact The French, after the
storm was allayed, would have dealt with the
Iroauois as they had previously dealt with the
Hurons and already their missionaries we're at
work among them. 1t did not suit the plans either
of the Dutch, or of the English who came after
them, that these enterprises should succeed. 1t
was better for the fur trade that the Indians should
not be civilized; at any rate it was not to be
thought of tha6 they should be civilized under
French direction So the Dutch and English tried
TO induce the Iroquois to send away their mission
nries Some attempt was made to supply them with
other religious instruction, and few Jealous min
listers can be named who preached 10 them with
nffect; but there v as no missionary enthusiasm in
The American churches at that day. If the govern
ment of New-York could not or would not supply
the savages with the Gospel it gave them unlimited
rum and gunpowder, and succeeded in keeping
them hostile 10 the French This fastened tho fall
of Canada beyond doubt; but savage alliances
hiring sure penalty, and during the Revolution the
ferocity which had been SO carefully stimulated
was by the persona. order of George LII. turned
against the patriots
In writing of the famous explorer, La Sale Mr..
Roberts makes the surprising mistake OF calling
him Salpitian priest. He not Sulpitan, nor
a priest nor missionary, but lay adventurer and
r0aagear, as the whole story of his career shows
La Sale had brother who was o Supitiau priest
Mt Montreal AMI Mr. Roberts has perhaps con
founded the two. But the clerical brother was not
n person of any note in American history. liz Is
nrobable that our author is also mistaken in his
confident assertion that the schoolmaster, John
Ury who was hanged as an accomplish in the So
called Negro Plot of 1741, was Jealous Catholic
priest Ury was accused Of " officiating as papish
pricst" but the testimony against him was as pre-
MYSTERIOUS as all the rest Of the farrago of fasehood
and delusion by which over thirty innocent persons
ware sent to their death. He proessed to be a
hiring minister of the English Church, aud doubt
less that is what he was. In reference to the
Charter Of Liberties granted by James while Duke
of York in 1883 and cancelled as soon as he became
King Mr. Roberts says that it was the first recog-
milton of the legislative authority of the people in
any constitution In America" and that All act
which accompanied it asserted more clearly than
apy other statute in the colonies the principle that
taxes should not laid without the consent of the
popular representatives. Both principles, however,
had been laid down fifty years earlier by the
charter of Maryland, and consistently followed IN
the legislation of that province
Mr. Roberts has paid close attention TO the events
of the Revolution in the State of New-York, and he
narrates them with rapidity and clearness and
with skill in generalization which compensates
for the necessary brevity of the story More, per-
haps, might have been tod about the division of
parties at that era but the influences which kepta
large faction of the population loyal to the Crown
are at least fairly indicated. To realize the rapid
growth of the commonwealth since the peace we
should bear in mind what Is generally overlooked,
that at the end of the Revolution New-York was
not of the largest colonies 1t was only the fifth
In population. Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Car
olina and Massachusetts SURPRISING it, and Mary
land Connecticut and even Tennessee keeping
with IL IIndar those circumstauce il g